Damage CTRL already has one member on the shelf, Asuka, who is recovering from a knee injury. The latest reports suggest that another member is dealing with an injury and was recently written out of television.
Dakota Kai was supposed to face Sonya Deville this past Monday on WWE RAW. However, the trio of Deville, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark ambushed Kai, IYO SKY, and Kairi Sane backstage before the scheduled match. They focused on Kai's surgically repaired knee even as she screamed in pain due to the attack.
According to Dave Meltzer, of the Wrestling Observer, Kai is reportedly dealing with an injury along with Seth Rollins. It was allegedly the main reason why Baszler repeatedly kicked Kai's knee and Bronson Reed hit six Tsunamis on The Visionary this week on WWE RAW.
"Remember, on Monday, we were talking about Seth and Dakota? It was done for injury reasons. (...) I don't know how serious. I asked if those were storyline covers for injuries and I was told they both were," Meltzer said on the Wrestling Observer Radio. [H/T - Cultaholic]
PW Insider Elite (H/T - Rajah) also provided an update on Dakota Kai, with many talent backstage feeling that she was injured although details have not been confirmed. Kai was reportedly taken off the road and has not wrestled since July 27 in Japan when Damage CTRL defeated Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. She suffered a torn ACL in her right knee last year and returned to action back in February.
Update on another Damage CTRL member's injury
As mentioned above, Asuka is currently recovering from a left knee injury. She has been out since April this year although she did appear on WWE's tour of Japan late last month. There's no current timetable for her return but she seemingly underwent surgery in June.
According to a recent Q&A by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, Asuka is not expected back to return until next year.
"Not expected back by the end of the year, according to people in WWE. But anything can happen, don't know the type of surgery yet," SRS said.
With Asuka still recovering and Dakota Kai seemingly out at least for the short term, Damage CTRL only has two active members in IYO SKY and Kairi Sane. They will need to step up their game since they are up against the dangerous trio of Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, and Sonya Deville.